Priests' storehouse of traditiol knowledge, indigenous beliefs: Pul

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, May 11: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Tuesday called for documentation of the traditiol priest chanting to preserve it for future generation.

Underscoring the significance of the traditiol priests in guarding and preserving the identity of the tribal society he said, “Traditiol priests are the storehouse of our traditiol knowledge and indigenous beliefs as we don’t have written records of our ancient history. And it is only through the oral chanting of the traditiol priests that we come to know about the myths of origin, ancient histories of tribes, the routes of migration as well as the basis of our various rituals”.

The chief minister was addressing the conference of All Aruchal Pradesh Abo Tani, Abo Taro Nibu, Nijik Boos (Priest) Welfare Association (AAPANWA) at Mopin ground here, an official report informed here today.

“Priest in our society holds a central figure and a very dignify position in the society. They have a unique power for performing rituals while conceiving a child in mother’s womb, before the birth of a child, for well being during life and also perform after death ritual for non-recurrence of un-tural death and for peace and well being of soul which no other power have this right,” he said.

He expressed sadness that the traditiol priest chanting is diminishing day by day in the tribal society and is being sidelined with the changing time and modernization.

He further called upon the priests to maintain its origility and do not let it dilute with modernization. He exhorted them not to lose heart but continue to serve the society by performing rituals for the needy people for their overall well being.

As a mark of respect and honour for the traditiol priests, he said to look into their demand for honorarium at Rs 2000 per month for the senior/head priests. He, however, requests the priests to serve the people willfully without demanding from them but to accept whatever is offer to them in return for their services saying that the priests are being look up as divine man.

Pul further assured to construct Community Hall in every district headquarters for performing traditiol priests as well as for imparting traditiol and indigenous knowledge and also for preserving and learning of puja articles.

He informed that Rs 4 Crore was sanctioned by his government during the last fincial year for the completion of Multipurpose Community Hall for the Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Aruchal Pradesh at Itagar. He said that the same hall could also be used by the priests for organizing such functions, the report added.

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